# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 923
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18442 "2015-01-15T15:38:09Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > In any case, I don’t think the bill can be labelled obviously a stupid Republican idea, because it attempts to address a very real issue. It’s a solution in search of a problem. And the “problem” is that the very real needs of ordinary citizens are being weighed against the profits of GOP-supporting corporations. This cannot be! Rar! Profits for the [del]few[/del]“many.” Yeah! ETA: but, yeah, I suppose it’s not “stupid.” Just pure fucking Machiavellian. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18443 "2015-01-15T15:41:49Z")
Talk show fuck and former House of Representatives fuck Joe Walsh tweeted his hopes that terrorists would behead people at CNN and MSNBC. > **[Open thread for night owls: Ex-congressman says call for CNN, MSNBC...](https://m.dailykos.com/stories/1357796)** > > Daily Kos is a progressive news site that fights for democracy by giving our audience information and resources to win elections and impact government. Our coverage is assiduously factual, ethical, and unapologetically liberal. We amplify what we... His attempted walkback both shows that he doesn’t know what satire is and…reiterates the fuck-up. What a shithead. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18444 "2015-01-15T16:24:40Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I admit it’s not the best, but we do need better cost/benefit analysis than we have. Citation needed. Also, the stupidity comes from how _dumb_ this proposed change is. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18445 "2015-01-15T16:30:01Z")
Hm. Having failed to change the leadership, the far-RW of the Congressional Pubs is [forming a new club, to the right of the Republican Study Committee](http://www.salon.com/2015/01/14/wingnuts_form_cool_new_club_far_right_house_flank_sets_up_invitation_only_group_to_annoy_john_boehner/). ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18446 "2015-01-15T17:43:51Z")
This is just like their laughable attempt to rewrite reality that doesn’t agree with them with Conservapedia, or attempting to gut the CBO when it said Obamacare would save money, and taxes on the rich don’t help the economy. Conservatives really have a problem hearing “no” don’t they? Probably why so many of them thinks rape isn’t a big deal ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18447 "2015-01-15T17:47:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I admit it’s not the best, but we do need better cost/benefit analysis than we have. No, we don’t. > [@adaher](#): > > In any case, I don’t think the bill can be labelled obviously a stupid Republican idea, because it attempts to address a very real issue. No, it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18448 "2015-01-15T18:34:29Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > . . . or attempting to gut the CBO when it said Obamacare would save money, and taxes on the rich don’t help the economy. [They haven’t given up that fight yet.](http://www.salon.com/2015/01/07/the_rights_new_war_on_truth_math_reality_and_the_real_reason_fox_news_economics_cant_be_trusted/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18449 "2015-01-15T20:00:06Z")
[Ron Paul Institute is just asking: Was Charlie Hebdo attack a “false flag”?](http://www.salon.com/2015/01/15/ron_paul_institute_is_just_asking_was_charlie_hebdo_attack_a_false_flag/) Yes. They went there. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18450 "2015-01-15T20:07:11Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Ron Paul Institute is just asking: Was Charlie Hebdo attack a “false flag”?](http://www.salon.com/2015/01/15/ron_paul_institute_is_just_asking_was_charlie_hebdo_attack_a_false_flag/) > > Yes. They went there. Poor Rand. He’s never going to be president with his dad around. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18451 "2015-01-15T20:23:07Z")
Clearly, the whole thing was a plot to get Obama to reveal who he loves more; the terroristic Muslamo-fascists, or the freedom-hating socialist French. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18452 "2015-01-15T22:01:09Z")
The Muslims invented algebra, the French, oral sex. No contest. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18453 "2015-01-15T22:08:25Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Poor Rand. He’s never going to be president **with his dad around**. The last four words were unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18454 "2015-01-15T22:13:37Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The Muslims invented algebra, the French, oral sex. No contest. We also invented the necktie\* while the Muslim world invented belly dancing which in turn gave us Shakira. It’s a neck-and-neck vote. \*(well, popularized technically but come on, you’re not going to give all the credit to some Balkanic, barely even francophone nobodies, are you ?) ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18455 "2015-01-15T22:39:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We’re talking about cost/benefit, not just cost. Or you could be right, I’d have to see the text of the bill. It would be stupid to say they should public cost/benefit analyses and then just go with the cheapest, ignoring the benefit side of the equation. > > I’d say you’re flat wrong about this, but the GOP has let me down too much for me to say for sure. Damn it. So, heaven help me, I actually did read the text of the bill (it’s linked in the HuffPo story). It does allow for a more “costly” rule to be adopted if the agency can prove benefits that outweigh the difference in costs between the proposed rule and the cheapest alternative. That said, from what I can tell all it really does is require a few more rounds of public hearings, a boatload of new paperwork, and tons of regulations regarding how to create and justify regulations. I have no doubt that creative bureaucrats of all stripes would have no trouble justifying and defending whatever rules they want under this proposed rubric - it would just cost a lot more and involve a lot more public grandstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18456 "2015-01-15T22:45:15Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > So, heaven help me, I actually did read the text of the bill (it’s linked in the HuffPo story). It does allow for a more “costly” rule to be adopted if the agency can prove benefits that outweigh the difference in costs between the proposed rule and the cheapest alternative. > > That said, from what I can tell all it really does is require a few more rounds of public hearings, a boatload of new paperwork, and tons of regulations regarding how to create and justify regulations. I have no doubt that creative bureaucrats of all stripes would have no trouble justifying and defending whatever rules they want under this proposed rubric - it would just cost a lot more and involve a lot more public grandstanding. Sounds like the equivalent of a company having meetings about upcoming meetings. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18457 "2015-01-15T22:46:43Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > So, heaven help me, I actually did read the text of the bill (it’s linked in the HuffPo story). It does allow for a more “costly” rule to be adopted if the agency can prove benefits that outweigh the difference in costs between the proposed rule and the cheapest alternative. > > That said, from what I can tell all it really does is require a few more rounds of public hearings, a boatload of new paperwork, and tons of regulations regarding how to create and justify regulations. I have no doubt that creative bureaucrats of all stripes would have no trouble justifying and defending whatever rules they want under this proposed rubric - it would just cost a lot more and involve a lot more public grandstanding. So basically they’re chanting “small government!” while expanding big government? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18458 "2015-01-15T22:53:13Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > So basically they’re chanting “small government!” while expanding big government? They were for small government before they were against it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18459 "2015-01-15T23:24:48Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Ron Paul Institute is just asking: Was Charlie Hebdo attack a “false flag”?](http://www.salon.com/2015/01/15/ron_paul_institute_is_just_asking_was_charlie_hebdo_attack_a_false_flag/) > > Yes. They went there. Well, look on the bright side – Ron Paul has been institutionalized. > [@levdrakon](#): > > Poor Rand. He’s never going to be president with his dad around. Or at least not until a critical mass of people think “Ron Paul” is the guy who invented the Pocket Fisherman. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18460 "2015-01-16T00:08:51Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > So, heaven help me, I actually did read the text of the bill (it’s linked in the HuffPo story). It does allow for a more “costly” rule to be adopted if the agency can prove benefits that outweigh the difference in costs between the proposed rule and the cheapest alternative. > > That said, from what I can tell all it really does is require a few more rounds of public hearings, a boatload of new paperwork, and tons of regulations regarding how to create and justify regulations. I have no doubt that creative bureaucrats of all stripes would have no trouble justifying and defending whatever rules they want under this proposed rubric - it would just cost a lot more and involve a lot more public grandstanding. Currently, the process for the government to build roads and other projects involves jumping through a ton of these hoops, with lawsuits all along the way. Should the government’s ability to do infrastructure projects be this restricted, or should it be as smooth as the regulatory process? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18461 "2015-01-16T00:12:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Currently, the process for the government to build roads and other projects involves jumping through a ton of these hoops, with lawsuits all along the way. Should the government’s ability to do infrastructure projects be this restricted, or should it be as smooth as the regulatory process? I don’t find the hoops to be excessive. The vast majority of projects that are initiated get approved and completed. The system works. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=922) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=924)